A blog on issues affecting Australia's newsagents, media and small business generally.

Adelaide oval, cashless

Further to my posts about cashless retail, I found our recently that Adelaide oval is cashless.. This, from their website:

All credit and debit cards will be accepted and will be exempt of any surcharges imposed by the venue. This change has been implemented to deliver faster service for patrons (less fumbling for change) and is more convenient for patrons who don’t, or don’t want to, carry cash.

Various locations around the stadium are clearly signed as card only outlets. Near these card only locations are outlets that will accept both cash and card payments. Also available are booths where patrons can exchange cash for a food & beverage cash card should they wish.

Adelaide Oval event day staff are familiar with the locations of all card only and cash/card outlets and will be available to direct patrons as required.

More and more locations are making this move. The ATO recently made a statement about its preference for cashless retail. I think going cashless something more retailers in our channel and similar will be dong in 2019 and beyond.

This surprised me, I thought it was illegal to refuse legal tender but… http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/07/what-counts-as-legal-tender/
It is the Reserve Bank of Australia’s understanding that, although Australian currency has legal tender status, it does not necessarily have to be used in transactions and that refusal to accept payment in legal tender banknotes and coins is not unlawful.
I don’t want to place barriers on the customers who still prefer cash (many of these are the more elderly) and as long as card fees exist I will continue to recover them on small purchases (under $4.95) as newspapers in particular as loss making when purchased alone on a card.